In aviation, a class rating is an allowance to fly a certain group of aircraft that require training common to all aircraft within the group. A type rating is specified if a particular aircraft requires additional specialized training beyond the scope of initial license and aircraft class training. Which aircraft require a type rating is decided by the local aviation authority. Almost all single-engine piston (SEP) or multi-engine piston (MEP) single pilot aircraft can be flown without a type rating, but are covered by a class rating instead.
In the United States, all turbojets require a type rating. Aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of more than 12500lb typically require a type rating.[1]
In the United States, there are seven categories of aircraft, which contain the following classes:
| Category | Class | Category | Class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airplane | Single-engine land (ASEL) | Lighter-than-air | Airship | |
| Multiengine land (AMEL) | Balloon | |||
| Single-engine sea (ASES) | Powered-lift | |||
| Multiengine sea (AMES) | Powered parachute | Powered parachute land | ||
| Rotorcraft | Helicopter | Powered parachute sea | ||
| Gyroplane | Weight-shift-control aircraft | Weight-shift-control aircraft land | ||
| Glider | Weight-shift-control aircraft sea |
Class ratings may have limitations placed upon them. In the United States, if a pilot being examined for a multi-engine rating does not demonstrate the ability to control an aircraft under asymmetric thrust, their multi-engine rating will be endorsed as "Limited-to-Center Thrust".[2] (In the European Union, a multi-engine centreline thrust aeroplane is considered a single-engine aeroplane when being used for an instrument rating skill test.[3])